Butchering implement



ct. 30, 1923- J N, PRlsK BUTCHERING IMPLEMENT Filed July V. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 30, 1923.

UNITED STATES Partnr eine.

JOHN N. PRISK, on JoHNsTowN, rENNsYLvANIA.

BUTCHERING IMPLEMENT.

Application filed July 7,

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be ift known that I, JOHN N. Pnrsn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Johnstown, in the county of Cambria and State ot Pennsylvania, have invented certain nen and useful improvements in Butchering Implements, et which the following is a specification, reference being had -to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates toY butchering implements and more particularly to a stunning hammer for stunningsteers and theV like por to the sticking operation.

An important object ot 'the invention is to provide an arrangement whereby uncertainty as to. the stunning of the animals at a single blow is removed.

A further object ot the invention is to provide a device of this character which is adjustable thereby permitting its use with animals of different sizes.

A. further obj ect of the invention is to provide a'device of this character which is simple in its construction and arrangement, durable in service and a general improvement inthe art.`

These and other objects I attain by 'the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of butchering apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 .is a :tron't elevation ot the head stop employed;

Figure 3 Vis a section on the line ot' liligure Il Figure ft is a vertical sectional `view through the apparatus taken at right angles to the view shown in Figure 3; and Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view therethrough.

Referring new more particularly to 'the drawings, the numeral designates a frame including vertically disposed angle' guides 1l, these angle guides receiving the corner posts 12 ot a rectangular horizontally disposed platt'orm 13.V The longer sides ot the platform 13 are provided'at their side edges with longitudinally extending braces 14. Beneath the platformv 13, ant more particularly beneath the ends ot the platform in alignment with these longitudinally extending braces 14, guides 15 are provided at each side ot the platform and in alignment with 1923. Serial N'o. 650,129.

the angle guide 11 of the frame 10. Extendingtransversely ot' ythe bottom of the frame 13 and supported in bearings 16 is a shaft 17 provided in alignment with each aligned pair `ot guides with a lever 1S which is secured to the shaft at its central portion and which has at its ends links 19 connecting the same with brake elements 2li slidably disposed in the guides 15. At one end the bearing 16 ot the shatt is termed in a plate provided at its upper surface with an arcuate edge which is notched, as'at 21, for coaction with a catch carried by a lever 23 secured to the shaft, so that the shaft maybe rotated and held in adjusted position.' It will be obvious that by rota-tion ot the shaft the brake elements 2() may be projected :for engagement with the guides or withdrawn from such en gagement.

One end ot the platform 13 is provided with a transverse member 24; from which projects a cylindrical member having the end thereof next adjacent the platform closed, as indicated at 26, and provided with an axially disposed bearing 27. Through this bearing is directed the shank 28 oi? a hammer member 29, the engaging end of which is provided with a blunt tace 3() having a restricted area. Between the head 29 and the closed end 26 ot the tubular member a spring 31 is disposed normally urging the head outwardly from the closed end and accordingly from the platform 13. This outward movement is limited by a pin 32 which extends transversely ot the shank 28 and engages against the inner tace oit the closed end 26.

Arranged upon the adjacent faces ot the reinforcing members 14 are 'the sides ot guide members 33 having aligned longitudinally extending slots 34 receiving the ends ot' a pin 35 directed through the inner end of the shank portion 28. Above the pin 35 a shatt 36 is mounted in bearings carried by the side members 14 and extends transversely ot' the platform 13 and is provided with a pair of spaced cam members 37, the 'facets 33 ot which are adapted to engage and withdraw the shank and hammer against the actionof the spring V31 and the suddenly leased cam, permitting the shank and hammer to be rapidly advanced under the iniiuence ot the spring 31 to thereby provide a sharp blow of the hammer 29. This shatt may be driven in any suitable manner.

ln the present instance l have disclosed the shaft as provided upon one end with a pulley 39, and upon the opposite end with a gear wheel 40. Extending transversely of the platform 13 is a second shaft 41 having at one end a pinion 42 engaging the gear wheel and at its opposite end a pulley 43 for engagement with a belt. The shaft is provided at one end thereof with a crank handle 44 whereby it may be rotated. Thus the shaft 36 may be rotated either by rotating the handle 44, thus driving the shaft through the pinion 42 and gear 40, or by ,applying a belt directly to the pulley 39 thereof, Vor by applying` a belt to the pulley 43 of the shaft 41. It will, of course, be obvious that in conjunctionwith an apparatus of this character a stanchion 45 for holding the animal with its head in the proper position must be provided. In the present instance I have simply illustrated a` stanchion including a relatively fixed block 4G and a slidable block 47, the blocks having coaeting notches combining to Aform a neck receivingl opening 48. In order that ihestocks may be accommodated to animals of various sizes the relatively stationary member thereof is made vertically adjustable in some suitable manner by a pin, in the present instance shown as held in position lby pins 49 extending through thestationary members 50 of the stocks 4and selectively engaging in one of a plurality of openings 51 formed in the stationary member. In order to provide for adjust ment of the platform 13 to bring the hammer 29 into proper alignment with the head of the animal engaged in the stocks elevating apparatus of any suitable character is provided, in the present ins-tance I have shown this as consisting of a. shaft 52 rotatably mounted upon the angle guides 11 at one end of the frame and provided with a crank whereby it may be rotated. Upon the shaft a ratchet 54 is mounted coast-ing with a pawl 55 carried by the frame. This paw] norn'ially prevents rotation of the shaft in one direction. About the shaft is wound a iiexible element 56 which passesV about pulleys 5T and has au end having branches l58, onel of which is secured to the upper end of each of the vertical standards 12 at theV corners of the frame 18. It will be obvious that by properly operatingthe shaft the desired level may be obtained and the platform held in such adjusted position either by the brake members 2O or by the pa'wl and ratchet mechanism of the shaft.

It will be obvious that upon rotation of the shaft the hammer 29` will be rapidly reeiprocated and since the head of the animal is held against movement will engage thereagainst the same spot; at each operation. It will furthermore be obviousV that the structure hereinbefore set vforth is capable of some change and modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of myV invention and I accordingly do'not limit myselfto such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim: Y

l. In combination, vertical guides, a. platform vertically adjustable upon said guides, means for holding the patform in adjusted position, a hammer horizontally mounted upon the platform, means constantly urging said hammer in one direction, `means for withdrawing the hammer againstthe first named means and suddenly releasing thename, and means for holding an animal with head thereof in position for' engagement by said hammer.V l Y v 2. "In butchering apparatus, vertical guides, a` horizontal platform verticallyadjustable in said guides', means'for holding the platform in adjusted position, 1a horizontally disposed sleeve 4carried by said platform and having one end thereof formed to provide a guide, ajhamn'ier'having a shank slidahly disposed within said guide, a spring surrounding said hammer between the head thereof and said guide, meansV for withdrawing` the Ahanim'er against the 'action of the spring and suddenly releasing Vthefsame, and means for maintainingthe animal withVV its head in alignment with saidY hammer and ir position to be engaged by the hammer when extendedby said spring. Y

3. In butehering apparatus, vertical guidesa horizontal platform vertically ad justable in said guides, means for holding the platform in adj usted position, a horizontally disposed sleeve carried by said platform and having-,one end thereofformed to provide a. guide, a hammer having. a shank slidably disposed within said guide, a spring surrounding said hammer between the head thereof and saidl guide, means for with-v drawingI the hammer against the action of the spring and suddenly releasing the same, means for maintaining the animal with its head in aligmnent with said hammer and in position to be engaged by thehammer when extended by said spring, said means for withdrawing and releasing said hammer comprising a pin directe-d through the shank of the 'hammer-,a shaft rotataby mounted upon the platform above said pin, cams car-y ried by the shaft and engaging with said pin, and means for rotating said shaft.

Y In testimony whereof I hereunto VatliX my signature. Y j

JOHN N. PRISK.y 

